Rep. Barbara Comtois

Maddy summaryHB 1717 reorganizes New Hampshire's family court system by establishing the "judicial branch family division" as a statutory court (not constitutional), replacing "marital masters" with administrative law judges. It requires all family matters for a single family to be handled by one administrative law judge in a geographically accessible court, mandates full judicial review of all recommendations, and ensures constitutional protections for children's rights in all proceedings. The bill directly affects families involved in divorce, custody, child support, and other family law cases handled in the state's family courts. Key mechanisms include standardized training for administrative law judges, mandatory consent acknowledgments before hearings, and explicit requirements for judicial review to prevent infringement of fundamental rights.

Maddy summaryHB 1509 would remove judicial immunity for judges who make bail decisions under specific circumstances. It allows civil lawsuits against judges if they release a defendant for certain offenses (like violations of RSA 631:2-b, felonies, or crimes committed while on prior bail), the released defendant then commits a new crime or intentional tort, and another person suffers physical or financial injury as a result. Injured parties or their estates could sue, and courts would not apply judicial immunity in these cases. The bill takes effect January 1, 2027, and does not change bail standards but creates a new legal pathway for accountability.

Maddy summaryHB 1016 repeals RSA 674:32, which currently requires New Hampshire municipalities to allow manufactured housing development opportunities. This bill removes a legal mandate forcing towns and cities to permit such housing. After passage, municipalities will no longer be obligated to provide space for manufactured housing developments. The change takes effect 60 days after enactment.

Maddy summaryHB 233 requires the New Hampshire Vaccine Association to audio and video record all its meetings and post the recordings on its website within 48 hours. It also mandates that written or verbal questions asked during meetings be answered and posted online within 14 days. The bill directly affects the association’s operations, requiring new transparency measures for its public communications. These provisions aim to make the association’s decision-making process more accessible to the public. The law would take effect 60 days after passage.

Maddy summaryHB 590 would change the election procedures for school boards in cooperative school districts (where multiple towns share a school system). It directly affects these districts and their residents by altering how school board members are chosen. The bill introduces new requirements for candidate qualifications and voting processes within these shared governance structures. This is a procedural change focused on standardizing election rules across cooperative districts, as reflected in the committee's recommendation to pass it with amendments.

Maddy summaryHB 396 would remove the requirement for meat and meat food products slaughtered and prepared within the state to undergo certain state inspections if sold only within the state. This directly affects small-scale meat processors, farmers, and local butchers who prepare meat on-site for local sale, exempting them from specific state inspection rules. The bill's key provision allows these locally produced products to be sold without meeting the full state inspection standards typically required for broader distribution. It does not change inspection requirements for products sold across state lines or for larger commercial operations.

Maddy summaryHB 616 proposed changes to how animals are confiscated from individuals suspected of or charged with animal abuse, and created a committee to review existing animal cruelty laws. The bill aimed to establish clearer procedures for animal confiscation during investigations while directing the committee to study and potentially recommend updates to current statutes. However, the bill was deemed "Inexpedient to Legislate" by the committee with a 5-0 vote on May 8, 2025, and was subsequently tabled without further action. It did not advance beyond the committee stage and remains inactive.

Maddy summaryHB 417 would repeal the communications services tax, which currently applies to providers of internet, phone, and similar telecommunications services. This repeal would eliminate a tax obligation for companies offering these services, potentially affecting their operational costs. The bill's key provision is removing this tax requirement from state law. As of the latest action, the bill was referred to committee for interim study with no further legislative action taken.

Maddy summaryHB 233 requires the New Hampshire Vaccine Association's board of directors to audio and video record all meetings and publish those recordings on the association's website in an accessible format within 48 hours of each meeting. This bill directly affects the New Hampshire Vaccine Association by mandating transparency in its public proceedings. The key provision is the 48-hour posting requirement for all recorded meetings, aiming to make the association's decision-making process more accessible to the public. The bill was introduced in March 2025 but was ultimately deemed "Inexpedient to Legislate" by committee in October 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 358 would have allowed parents or guardians to claim religious exemptions from school and daycare vaccination requirements for children. It directly affected families seeking to opt out of immunization mandates based on religious beliefs. The bill proposed amending existing law to establish a clearer process for submitting such exemptions, replacing current requirements. The bill passed both legislative chambers in June 2025 but was vetoed by Governor Ayotte on July 15, 2025, preventing it from becoming law.